Running Head Research Paper Project 1

Violence and Abuse against Women Thora F. Williams

September 17th, 2010

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Introduction !omestic "iolence against #omen is a serious global problem #ithin societ$. Violent acts occur dail$ #ithin communities, and the "ictims are mainl$ #omen. The discussion %ocuses on the ps$chological impact, and %amil$ correlates attributed to the patholog$. &artner "iolence consists o% "arious %orms, #hich include emotional or lo# sel%'esteem, ps$chological, ph$sical, se(ual and socioeconomic abuse. )esearch pro"ides *ualitati"e studies on en"ironmental bac+grounds o% men #ho engage in aggressi"e and inappropriate e(pressions do anger directed against #omen. ,nderstandabl$, partners sometimes abuse men- ho#e"er, domestic "iolence and abuse "ictims are usuall$ the %emale. !omestic "iolence identi%ies as a health ris+, and mental health problem. The scourge a%%ects #omen #ho end up traumati.ed #ith se"ere ph$sical in/uries. 0"en death can ultimatel$ result %rom "iolence. Strong antisocial beha"iors seem to correlate #ith later delin*uenc$ and spousal abuse. Those beha"iors are characteristic o% high le"els o% aggression along #ith consistent "iolation o% social norms across a range o% settings 12a.din, 13475. 6hildren sometimes #itness assaults and batter$ against a parent namel$ the mother. The con%usion surrounding "iolent acts creates an atmosphere o% %ear and uncertaint$. )esearchers sho# that parents #ho are "iolent to#ards one another are at a higher ris+ o% abusing their children. With that, in%ormation children e(posed to those situations themsel"es become perpetrators o% abuse sometime in the %uture 1Strauss, 13325. )esearch continues to document that A%rican'American inner cit$ male o%ten e(perience personal and ps$chological trauma associated "iolent acts. The data sho#s that the group usuall$ su%%ers %rom lac+ o% cultural identit$, po"ert$, ph$sical and mental health problems 1Whale$, 13325.

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The term "iolence indicates itsel% as a great ph$sical %orce to damage and in/ure. According to Webster7s II 8e# )i"erside !ictionar$, 1349, "iolence identi%ies itsel% as sho#ing great emotional %orce. :n the other hand aggression can be di%%erent to pin do#n- putting together "iolence and aggression it results in beha"ior that is intended to harm another indi"idual 12assin, Fein ; <ar+hus 120045. The perpetuation o% "iolence and abuse continues in man$ di%%erent #a$s. It e(hibits as sociopath logical beha"iors, emotional, mental and ph$sical hostilit$ to#ard others pla$ing po#er%ul roles especiall$ against #omen. Intimate "iolence tears at the %abric o% the li"es o% %amilies and communities at large. =reat emotional %orce emphasi.es a double blind o% mental thoughts, #hich results in social con%lict. The pro/ection o% antisocial disorder produces irresponsible indi"iduals that results in emotionall$ troubled and immature people. The ans#er ma$ lie in earl$ sociali.ation practices %rom the home and the e(tended communit$. The purpose o% this paper e(amines the ps$chological e%%ects o% "iolence and abuse against #omen in an intimate partner relationship. In addition, the discussion researches the social d$namics and characteristics attributable to domestic "iolence and abuse. All "iolence is shoc+ing, but abuse bet#een intimates is especiall$ disturbing 12assin et al, 20045. Societ$ ignores the problem #hile #omen are usuall$ the "ictims o% the scourge become secreti"e concerning the betra$al. In the ,nited States appro(imatel$ one'third to one'hal% o% %emale homicide "ictims are murdered b$ a husband or a bo$%riend 12assin et al, 20045. &eople usuall$ "erbali.e their lo"e %or partner, $et easil$ resort to "iolence against the other %or innumerable reasons. 8o one should li"e in %ear o% another indi"idual and spousal abuse illicit that sense o% %ear, anger, and "ictimi.ation. !omestic "iolence and abuse are used %or one purpose onl$ to gain and maintain control o"er $ou 1Smith ; Segal, 20105. The #riter continues the discussion #ith the

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ps$chological impact and %amil$ correlates attributed to the patholog$ o% "iolence and abuse against #omen. Violence against #omen is a global issue as pre"iousl$ mentioned and de%ined as a health and human rights phenomena. Women around the #orld band together to rall$ against ine*ualit$ and gender "iolence. Amnest$ international has launched a global campaign to stop "iolence against #omen, in con/unction #ith the ,nited 8ations Securit$ 6ouncil on resolutions 1>2? and 1420 12han, 20045. The #riter continues the discourse #ith approaches %or impro"ed health$ conditions as the$ relate to "iolence and abuse against #omen. Implementation strategies #ith de%ined programs in recognition o% ps$chological #arning signs and pre"entati"e help%ul approaches are necessar$. Finall$, researched solutions %or mental health sur"i"al, training and other %ormulas must be present to combat the d$namics o% "ictim abuse. Societ$ needs to pla$ a role in the rehabilitation o% damaged li"es #hile stri"ing to +eep %amilies and communities sa%e and intact. @iterature )e"ie# =i"en the realit$ and purpose o% m$ in"estigation into the domestic abuse issue, it is important to understand that research continues to e(plore the social ps$chological impact on the disorder. )esearch suggests that "iolence is a learned beha"ior and that children, #ho gro# up in abusi"e homes are more li+el$ to abuse others and ha"e beha"ioral problems 12ell$ 133>5. Attitudes and speci%ic t$pes o% mentalit$ against #omen need to undergo a trans%ormation. It is important to brea+ the c$cle o% abuse against #omen. Initiati"es implemented b$ ,8IF0< 120045, helps to alle"iate and support "iolence against #omen. Violence against #omen is a realit$ and a challenge %or #omen7s groups #ho are #or+ing to combat the scourge. )aising the issue, educating bo$s and men to respect #omen, using

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education and positi"e parenting s+ills, might help combat the pain and d$s%unction associated #ith abuse. 6onnectedness is a personal dri"e and interconnecting bonds ma+e up the social %abric o% relationships. That interconnectedness is the strength gi"en to the procreation o% %amil$ and societ$. Violence against #omen is a realit$ and a challenge %or #omen7s groups. )aising the issue, educating bo$s and men to respect #omen b$ using education and positi"e parenting s+ills might help to combat the pain and d$s%unction associated in the abuse. 8egati"e attitudes and speci%ic t$pes o% mentalit$ against #omen need to undergo a trans%ormati"e process. It is also important to brea+ the c$cle o% abuse against #omen as documented b$ initiati"es implemented b$ ,8IF0< 120045. 0ach $ear millions o% children #itness assaults and batter$ against a parent or intimate partner. The con%usion surrounding "iolent acts create an atmosphere o% %ear and uncertaint$. )esearch sho#s that parents #ho are "iolent to#ards one another are at a higher ris+ %or ph$sicall$ abusing their children 1Strauss, 13325. ,ltimatel$, children e(posed to domestic "iolence, themsel"es become perpetrators o% abuse sometime in the %uture. 6on"ersel$, the$ su%%er %rom problems, #hich include depression, aggression, an(iet$ and other the ps$chological complications. !omestic abuse not onl$ hurt the partner but also the entire %amil$ #hile e(panding into the #ider societ$. The d$namics has %ar'reaching implications e"en unto the /ustice s$stem. Scope and 6haracteristics o% Abuse In approaching the problems m$ stud$, ser"es to %ocus on the research surrounding ps$chological abuse o% #omen, #hich also is emotional abuse. &s$chological abuse, #hich is messing #ith $our mind, is one o% the most lethal %orms o% emotional abuse. It destro$s con%idence, creati"it$,

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and indi"idualit$ 1<olinaro, 20045. A #oman7s sel% esteem and sel%'trust erodes #hen there partner tells them that the$ are too sensiti"e and too dramatic- the$ are to blame and other derogator$ "erbal remar+s. The$ tend to belie"e that something is A#rong #ith meB and becomes con%used as to #ho the$ are #ithin the relationship. A recent stud$ reports that ps$chological aggression in $oung couples is associated #ith decreased satis%action %or both partners 1@aurent, 2ima, ; 6apaldi, 20075. Abusers literall$ attac+ and undermine their "ictims. The more sensiti"e a #oman is, the more serious damage she undergoes ps$chologicall$ to in"alidate her %eelings. 0motional abuse is mentall$ damaging to the spirit and mind, it lea"es no "isible #ounds or scars, and ho#e"er, it in%licts serious "iolation o% the sel%. &s$chological abuse is dangerous and de"astating, and the abuser is smart and charismatic enough to +no# that no out#ard bruises are "isible. The abuser ma$ beha"e inappropriatel$ in situations, $et #omen still cling and ideali.e the men desperatel$ tr$ing to +eep the relationships %or the lo"e, support and com%ort the$ thin+ the abuser is o%%ering 10"ans, 20105. Aggression e(ists as stri"ing %or master$ o% material resources, as #ell as respect and connectedness to others. Coth indi"idual thoughts and social in%luences a%%ect the e(perience and e(pression o% aggression 1Smith ; <ac+ie, 20035. From birth people need attention, interacting #ith other humans is a habit that satis%ies the needs %or social and emotional adaptation. When one person meets another, he or she ma$ be lonel$ and loo+ing %or a %riend boast%ul and searching %or an audience, or hungr$ and loo+ing %or something to eat 1@e"ine, 13795. Theoreticall$, ps$chological aggression %alls into di%%erent categories. 6ategoricall$, "erbal aggression entails abusi"e #ords, dominant o"erbearing beha"iors, pre"ention %rom seeing or

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spea+ing to %amil$ members, e(hibition o% /ealous beha"iors #ith suspicion as a demonstrati"e method %or dealing #ith impulse modalities. Abusi"e relationships can occur in man$ relationships. It is "ital %or societ$ to recogni.e the patholog$ as an a%%liction that is against %amilies and communities. There are man$ signs o% an abusi"e relationship and #hile all ph$sical attac+s are pre"alent, #omen hide the emotional #ounds. Dust because the public does not see, a #oman battered #ith a blac+ and blue %ace does not mean that the$ are not emotionall$ hurt #ithin the relationship. Societ$ ignores emotional abuse- ne"ertheless, it is no less destructi"e. 0motional abusers o%ten demonstrates beha"iors that are dominant , %or e(ample, $elling, name calling, loose pro%anit$, blaming, shaming into humiliation and de/ection and isolation %rom %riends and %amil$ #ith controlling beha"iors. Additionall$ threats and intimidation includes the %act that a #oman is unable to get along #ithout their lo"e and support. A "ariet$ o% tactics and manipulation usuall$ %ollo# to e(ert po#er o"er the "ictim. Again, it is di%%icult to de%ine ps$chological abuse %rom out#ard appearances, ho#e"er the abuser continues b$ tr$ing to pre"ent the %emale partner %rom ha"ing other relationships outside o% the home. The abuser controls ho# mone$ is spent, #here $ou go and #hat $ou bu$. ,suall$ an abuser #ould apologi.e and "o# that the in%licted hurts #ill not happen again. Eo#e"er, a #oman +no#s that it #ill, but %ears #hile #ondering i% she is imagining the pain and re/ection, she %eels #ithin the relationship. A stud$ has %ound that #omen report mar+edl$ higher rates o% %ear during marital con%licts 1Dacobson, =ottman, Walt., )ushe, Cabcoc+, ; Eolt.#orth'<unroe, 13395. Women #ho are ps$chologicall$ abused identi%ies #ith lac+ o% con%idence and personalit$ changes %or e(ample #ithdra# a%ter being an outgoing t$pe personalit$ and being depressed and an(ious around the abuser.

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Scope o% the &roblem )esearch e(plains that one out o% e"er$ three #omen #orld#ide is ph$sicall$ or se(uall$ abused during their li%etime 1Shahud ; Sharma, 20105. It is important to understand that research continues #ith the impact o% the ps$chological disorder perpetrated against #omen. Violence and po"ert$ ser"e to connect #ith societ$. There is a ma/or concern, b$ groups, that the underclass is restricted in a stereot$pical con"ersation o% ine*ualit$, #hich %ocuses on poor socioeconomic and maladapti"e beha"iors. As o% 2000, about eight million incidents o% intimate partner abuse ha"e occurred in one $ear in the ,nited States 1Stoppler, 200>5. With that high rate o% "iolence' induced e(istence, one #ould thin+ that a #oman #ould not thin+ t#ice o% remo"ing hersel% and her children in"ol"ed %rom the abuser. Eo#e"er, most #omen are %ear%ul %or the li"es o% them, their children and other %amil$ members. There are other reasons, #hich inhibit the mo"ement o% the "ictim %rom the abuser namel$ %inancial, emotional and ps$chological %ear. :%ten times, the #oman is in that stage called lo"e not o% sel% but lo"e %or the controller. In a ten'countr$ stud$ on #omen7s health and domestic "iolence conducted b$ World Eealth :rgani.ation 1WE:5, it is %ound that bet#een %i%teen and se"ent$'one percent o% #omen reported ph$sical or se(ual "iolence b$ a husband or partner 1Fact Sheet 20035. Toda$, the scope o% "iolence against #omen is #ide and %ar'reaching. It is a "iolation against human rights %rom a global perspecti"e. ,8IF0< #or+s on se"eral %ronts to#ards ending "iolence against #omen and girls. This includes tac+ling the problem %rom the root, #hich is gender ine*ualit$ 1,8IF0< 20045. Violence and ps$chological abuse remains per"asi"e across all border, racial and cultural %orms.

6onclusion

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Finall$, the debate on brea+ing the c$cle o% "iolence against #omen and domestic abuse continues. The ps$chological realit$ o% abuse against #omen is brutal and per"asi"e- the emotional trauma ta+es on a selecti"e point o% "ie#. Dudging %rom research studies societ$ understands the long'term ps$chological e%%ects o% abuse against #omen. Violence against #omen continues as a global problem. 0"er$one understands that societ$ need to ta+e meaning%ul steps to eliminate the problem o% abusi"e beha"iors against citi.ens namel$ #omen. &s$chological abuse is a cruel and destructi"e %orce, #hich is common in man$ intimate t$pe relationships. It is people7s responsibilit$ to create a sa%e abuse %ree en"ironment %or themsel"esit is not an$one else7s /ob 10"ans 20075. Violence and abuse against #omen is a serious threat, not onl$ to the parties in"ol"ed, but also to the en"ironment at large. )esearch reports that ps$chological aggression is a per"asi"e trait o% American %amilies 1Strauss, ; Field 200>5. There are social and emotional costs attributed to "iolence against #omen. There are characteristics and %actors %or pre"entati"e measures aligned #ith the sub/ect. In alignment #ith the sub/ect, I #ill not e"aluate or pro"ide the %actors and e%%ecti"e measures. !espite the odds, studies ha"e %ound that on a #orld#ide scale there are countless organi.ations, groups, 8=:7s and #omen support %or each other. Eelping to empo#er #omen and create societies #ill ultimatel$ help #omen in these situations to help themsel"es. In conclusion, so long as #omen su%%er the abusers ph$sical, emotional and ps$chological abuse, the$ cannot achie"e their %ull potential under e*ualit$ #ithin societ$. 6ountries ha"e made progress in addressing the issue, ho#e"er, in too man$ countries man$ gaps remains 1,8IF0<5. The ma/or thesis o% this stud$ is to bring to the %ore%ront the secret curse perpetrated against #omen resulting in ps$chological and emotional trauma, #hich %uels and perpetuates societal brea+do#ns. There is an international and global cause %or concern #ith

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Amnest$ International leading campaigns to stop the "iolence against #omen 12han, 20045.The media has ta+en on the responsibilit$ o% shining the spotlight on the issue o% domestic abuse and "iolence against #omen. :n @arr$ 2ing !r. &hil highlighted a program that he runs relati"e to the situation o% "iolence against #omen. Ee e(plained to the tele"ision audience that he intends to help #omen understand the %ace o% abuse, and #hat the problem loo+s li+e Ee #ent %urther to o%%er a sa%e #a$ to separate %rom an abuser, and o%%er help #ith dissociation %rom the abuser. Abuse is chronic #ithin communities. A #ell'+ept secret #hich societ$ needs to con%ront and e(amine on all le"els. In realit$, dealing #ith the issue #ill help %amilies and communities.

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)e%erences 0"ans, <.T. 120075.Are $ou being abusedF 120075.)etrie"ed %rom http GG###.melanietoniae"ans.comGarticleGare'$ou'being'abused.htm

Dacobson,8.S.,=ottman,D.<.,Walt.,D.,)ushe,).,Cabcoc+,D., ;Eolt.man'<unroe,A. 113395.A%%ect, "erbal content, and ps$choph$siolog$ in the arguments o% couple #ith a "iolent husband. Dournal o% consulting and clinical ps$cholog$, H2,342'344. 2assin, S., Fein, S., ; <ar+hus, ). 120045. Social &s$cholog$.Wads#orth, 6engage @earning. 2ell$,). 1133>5.School Violence ho# pre"alent is itF )etrie"ed %rom http GG712educators.about.comGcsGschool"iolenceGaGschool"iolence.htm. 2han, I. 120045. 8either "iolence against #omen nor po"ert$ is ine"itable. )etrie"ed %rom http GG###.amenest$.orgGenGne#s'and'updatesG%eature'storiesGneither'"iolence'against'#omen.

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@aurent, E.2., 2ima, E.2., ; 6apaldi, !.<. 120075.Interaction and relationship de"elopment in stable $oung couples. 0%%ects o% positi"e engagement, ps$chological aggression, and #ithdra#al. Dournal o% adolescence."ol>1, 1H5 41?'4>?. @e"ine, A. 113795.,nderstanding &s$cholog$. )andom Eouse &ress. <olinaro, A. 120045.0motional abuse is ps$chological abuse. )etrie"ed %romhttp GGdi"inecaroline.comG22079G?1>47'emotional'abuse'ps$chological'abuse. <uslim #omen7s league 1133?5.An Islamic perspecti"e on "iolence against #omen. )etrie"ed %rom http GG###.m#lusa.orgGtopicsG"iolence; harassmentG"iolence.html 8ational 6oalition against domestic "iolence. )etrie"ed %rom http GG###.uni%em.orgGgender' issueG"iolenceIagainst #omenG Smith. ; Segal, D. 120105.!omestic "iolence and abuse. )etrie"ed %rom http GGhelpguide.orgGmentalGdomesticI"iolenceIabuseIt$pesIsignsIcausesIe%%ects.htm. Smith, 0.)., ; <ac+ie, !.<. 120035.!e%ining con%lict and aggression )etrie"ed %rom http GG###.ps$press.comGsmithand <ac+ieGresourcesGtopicJch1>'tp'01 Smith, <.A. 113325.6hildren as #itness to marital "iolence a ris+ %actor. 6olumbus :E 2os laboratories. Strauss, <.A., ; Field, 6.D. 1200>5.&s$chological aggression b$ American &arents 8ational data on pre"alence, chronicit$, and se"erit$. Dournal o% marriage and %amil$, H?,73?'404. Williams, :.D. 113335.Focus groups o% A%rican American <en &erspecti"es on addressing domestic "iolence. )etrie"ed %rom http GG###.minca"a.umn.eduGdocumentsG

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